It has an area of 2,156 square kilometres (832 sq mi), making it the eighth largest district in England and the largest non-unitary district. It also has the lowest population density of any English district, with a mean of just 24 persons per square kilometre.

The council is the owner of the Penrith Leisure Centre which is run by a private company under contract. The council also owns a number of playing fields and recreation grounds throughout the district most notably the sports pitches at Frenchfield on the outskirts of Penrith.